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'I'm sure like a player they improve, they make mistakes and get better. We're expecting Andrew to referee the law'
Struggling England have turned up the heat on referee Andrew Brace ahead of this Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations round four showdown with France at Twickenham, a fixture taking place 14 weeks after the IRFU-affiliated Welshman took charge of the sudden death Autumn Nations Cup final between the same two sides.
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Brace shipped criticism for his performance in that decider which England eventually won 22-19 in extra-time. The penalty count was 9-16 against the French, Fabien Galthie’s team conceding nine ruck penalties and three at the scrum compared to England giving up six ruck infringements and one more at the scrum.
It resulted in the official being on the receiving end of some nasty personal abuse on social media and he was even pulled from doing a Heineken Champions Cup match in France the following weekend.
Since then, Brace has taken charge of England in their opening Six Nations game where their defeat to Scotland ignited the run of penalties that resulted in Eddie Jones inviting RFU referees Matthew Carley and Wayne Barnes to training this week to iron our some issues.
England have conceded a total of 41 penalties in their three matches across the tournament, a figure that includes the 15 Brace penalised them for in round one versus the Scots. The penalty count that February Saturday was 15-6 against England, who conceded seven ruck penalties and two more at the scrum compared to Scotland leaking two infringements in each of those sectors of play.
'…despite what social media appears to have determined the Irish official can look back on a job well done.'
In a new feature, Ref Watch, ex-ref Paul Smith ??? looks at each Six Nations refereeing performance. First up, Andrew Brace in #ENGvWALhttps://t.co/EYRCvoNuOr
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 7, 2021
England boss Eddie Jones said at Thursday’s team announcement: “We have got a referee on Saturday whose job is to enforce the laws of the game and we are hopeful he will enforce the laws of the game as the law books states.”
This theme was warmed to by forwards coach Matt Proudfoot on Friday when asked his thoughts about having Brace on the whistle for a third time in five England matches. “The laws stay the same. The referee is there to referee the law. Like any game, things happen. Andrew is a very good referee. We understand his style, we have had our conversation with him and the messages he is looking for.
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“Those are the important messages, what he sees and how he interprets it, so the team has taken on that message but the big thing we have spoken about from a referee perspective is what can we control, where are those moments that when we are trying to apply pressure we need to be smarter about, so that has been our big focal point this week about the refereeing.
“We review constantly every performance, areas we have spoken about, and every referee has his plan and we need to understand it. That was the conversation we have had with him and I’m sure like a player they improve, they make mistakes and they get better. We are expecting Andrew to referee the law and what his interpretation of it is. I don’t think anything other than that is applicable.”
Asked what specifically England need to do to get on the right side of Saturday’s decisions, Proudfoot added: “Being smarter, knowing which are the stupid ones and correcting that. Obviously, if a team is applying pressure and you get caught in the wrong position then that is going to happen in a game but the ones that we release the pressure are the ones we need to be smarter about.
“We have spent a lot of the week understanding where we are transgressing and had live sessions with referees. We have really addressed that. Players have honed their skills about where they can impart pressure and where is the line.”
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"We have tried to create sessions that elicited that response and to expose the players"
– England have gone to great lengths to clean up their act this week#SixNations #ENGvFRA
https://t.co/MlKxazGto0— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 11, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
The pack lacks a little in height for the line out and I wouldn’t be completely convinced by some of the combinations till we see it in action.
5 Go to commentsThe side is good but lacks experience. International playing bona fides udually trumps super rugby form for good reason. And incumbents are usually stuck with. Codie Taylor should start or come off the bench. B Barrett will start at fullback. Blackadder has not earned the position, Finau has. TJs experience and competitiveness earns him a starting role, Christie or Ratima off the bench
5 Go to commentsPretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
5 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
5 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
5 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to commentsProctor Definitely inform again this year had a hell of a season last year and this year is looking even better. Still mixed feelings about Ioane tho.
4 Go to commentsDagg is still trying to get enough headlines to make himself relevant enough to get a job. The Crusaders went back to square one at all levels. Shelve this season and nail the next one.
6 Go to commentsHe was in such great form. Sad for him but only a short term injury and it will be great to see him back for the finals.
1 Go to commentsAfter their 5/0 start, I had the Crusaders to finish Top 4 only…they lost the plot in Perth but will reload and back themselves vs 4th placed Rebels…
5 Go to commentsBoth nations missed a great opportunity to book a game that would have had a lot of interest from around the world. I understand these games can’t be organised in 5 minutes but they should have found a way to make it happen. I don’t think Wales are ducking anyone but it’s a bad look haha.
3 Go to commentsIt will be fascinating to see the effect that Jo Yapp has. If they can compete with Canada and give BFs a run for their money that will be progress
1 Go to commentsFollowing his dream and putting in the work. Go well young fella!
3 Go to commentsPerhaps filling Twickenham is one of Mitchell’s KPIs. I doubt whether both September matches will be at Twickenham on consecutive weekends. I would take the BF one to a large provincial stadium so as not to give them the advantage and experience of playing at Twickenham before a large crowd prior to the RWC.
3 Go to commentsvery unfortunate for Kitshoff, but big opportunity potentially for Nché to prove he is genuinely the best loosehead in the world, rather than just a specialist finisher. Presuming that if Kitshoff is out, it will also give Steenekamp a chance to come into the 23? Or are others likely to be ahead of him?
1 Go to commentsA long held question in popular culture asks if art imitates life or does the latter influence the former? Over this 6 nations I can ask the same question of the media influencing the thoughts of its audience or vice versa. Nobody wants to see cricket scores in rugby, as a spectacle it is not sustainable. With so many articles about England’s procession and lack of competition it feeds the epicaricacy of many looking for an opportunity to pounce. England are not the first team to dominate nor does it happen only in rugby, think Federer, Nadal, Red Bull or Mercedes, Manchester Utd, Australia in tests and World Cups. Instead of celebrating the achievements why find reasons to falsify it pointing towards larger playing pool, professional for a longer period or mitigate with the lack of growth in other nations. Can we not enjoy it while it is here and know that it won’t last for ever, others coveting what England have will soon take the crown, ask the aforementioned?
6 Go to commentsShame he won’t turn out for the Netherlands now they’re improving. U20s are Euro champs and in the U20 Trophy this year. The senior sides gets better every year too.
3 Go to commentsWill rugbypass tv be showing these games?
1 Go to comments